Translation:

There are some who declare: ‘We believe in God and in the Last Day,’ yet they are not true believers. They seek to deceive God and those who believe in Him, but they deceive none save themselves, though they may not perceive it. There is a sickness in their hearts which God has increased: they shall be sternly punished for their hypocrisy. When it is said to them: ‘Do not commit evil in the land,’ they reply; ‘We only want to make peace.’ Truly, it is they who are the evil-doers, but of this they are not aware. And when it is said to them: ‘Believe as others believe,’ they reply: ‘Are we to believe as fools believe?’ Truly it is they who are the fools, if they only knew it! When they meet the faithful, they declare: ‘We, too, are believers.’ But when they are alone with their devils, they say to them: ‘We follow none but you: we were only mocking.’ God mocks at them, leaving them to wander blindly on in their contumacy. Such are those that barter away guidance for error: their commerce does not prosper.

Tafsir (Commentary):

For those who put worldly interests first, total and unconditional devotion to the truth appears unwise, for their true allegiance is to their worldly interests, and it is only on a superficial level that they can attach themselves to the truth. They consider themselves clever. They think that they are safeguarding themselves in the world, and also qualifying to be considered among the pious. But this is no more than wishful thinking; it is a figment of their imagination rather than a real fact of life. Every test in life removes them further from the way of truth and binds them closer to their selfish ways. Their hypocrisy is like a cancer which grows and grows. They consider true believers, who act in the interests of truth, to be destroying themselves for no good reason. They call their own policy, on the other hand, one of reconciliation; they prize it for enabling them to pursue a safe course without clashing with anyone; but this just shows how distorted their reasoning is. If they were to think deeply, they would realize that true peace on earth can only come from man giving himself up to God alone, and that it is evil to obstruct any movement aimed at consolidating man’s relationship with his Lord. Their seemingly profitable trading is in fact running at a loss, for they are forsaking pure truth for an adulterated version of the truth which can benefit none.

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